Putrid Antecedence of Dr. I.H.K. Mahanama

When the case of two top government officials - Chief of Presidential Staff I. H. K. Mahanama and former Chairman of State Timber Corporation Piyasena Dissanayake, arrested last week for accepting a bribe of Rs. 20 million from an Indian businessman, was called, the Colombo Additional Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala, ordered them to re-remand until 22 May.

One of the acuse, Dr. I.H.K. Mahanama who was a monk, a socialist, had a doctorate and he was given extension of service and made Chief of Staff by no other than the President Maithripala Srisena.

Mahanama, the chief of staff of the president, who was caught red-handed when receiving a bribe of Rs.20 million, as advance out of a promised full sum amounting to Rs.100 million (Rs. 540 million was originally demanded as bribe.)

So far, President Maithripala Srisena has failed to come forward to inform the country, reasons behind his decision to make a ‘con man’ chief of staff of his secretariat.

According to reports emerging from the news websites, Mahanama’s place of birth is Kithalagama , Matara.

His name at birth was Indikatiya Hewa Kusumadasa. He was a monk during his young days. His name then was Kithalgama Mahanama . While wearing the robe he entered the Kelaniya University and secured a degree in economics. Subsequently he gave up his robes, and changed his name again to Indikatiya Hewa Kusumsiri Mahanama.

Reports further reveal that while was in the University he was a staunch JVP activist- imbued with socialism. After his University career, he somersaulted to the SLFP. Thereafter, he successfully completed the SLAS examination, and his first appointment was as Agalawatte district secretary.

Subsequently during the period of president Chandrika through the SLFP connections he secured a secretary post under her. His wife too at that time worked in Chandrika’s secretariat.

Prior to his association with Chandrika, Mahanama was residing in Ragama. Afterwards, with the aid of president’s powers he obtained a flat in Summit official quarters, Colombo, and his two sons attended Royal College.

Reports available in the news websites further reveal -

As both husband and wife were under Chandrika, they made hay while the sun was shining. After selling the Ragama house, he bought a property in Wewelduwa; bought a shop at Thorana junction, Waragoda , Kelaniya , and more lands .

Mahanama then became a secretary during President Mahinda Rajapakse period. During that period, he constructed houses on the lands in Wewelduwa and sold them, and carried on a real-estate business.

Mahanama during that period of time obtained a doctorate appellation from a University in India. Mahanama’s Indian doctorate however is surrounded by suspicion. In any case fake or not, that enabled him to call himself as “Dr. Mahanama”.

During Rajapakse era, Mahanama earned illicitly and infinitely.

Mahanama who purchased a land along Kandy Road, Kelaniya constructed a mansion, which a government servant can’t never dream of with his monthly salary during his entire lifetime. It is worthy to note, the salary of a most senior secretary of the SLAS is less than Rs. 140,000.00 per month (inclusive of allowances).

One looking at the mansion of Mahanama, one would certainly agree that even if the official salary per month of Mahanama is twenty fold more, such a mansion cannot be constructed out of his official earnings.

He fetched all his family members from Kitalagama to give them residence in Colombo and Gampaha . In addition, he found employment for them. The worst part! his younger sister (loku nangi) failed in mathematics at the G C E O/L , yet she is become a Vice principal.(now retired) Those are the Fake Doctor Mahanama’s achievements .

Then came the good governance government, and he became the permanent secretary of Lands ministry. During those days, he took his two sons and went to Japan. His elder son studied in Australia.

The post of secretary lands ministry is rife with opportunities for bribe taking. It is through him lands are granted to investors. Bribery being his favorite hobby he earned unhindered and without limit. But those did not come to light. Crooks and the corrupt get caught but once only after they have committed a series of such crimes.

While he was the Secretary of Lands Ministry, his time for retirement arrived. In any event, he was possessed of all the habits and traits of a downright elusive manipulator, he had worn the saffron robe, he was a socialist, acquired a doctorate degree, and while working under two presidents of the country, he also had learnt the methods to suppress all his monumental corruption and illicit earnings.

It is despite all these evil propensities and his preoccupation, President Maithripala Srisena appointed him to the high post of Secretary, Land Ministry, gave him an extension in service and alsom ade him the chief of staff of his secretariat.

Bribes were as a rule collected after flying to Singapore and Dubai, on this occasion the venue was suddenly changed to SL at Taj Samudra hotel , which is close to the presidential secretariat, because the two officers had long experience of collecting bribes, with the president close at hand.

President realizing the odds are heavily against him, is now making loud announcements that maximum punishment shall be meted out to these two of his officers.

If that is so, then why did he give an extension in service and take into his fold Mahanama with such a putrid antecedence?

It is well to remind, that people have not forgotten, President chasing out the former Bribery Commission Director General Dilrukshi who trapped Gothabaya and summoned him to court.

There is a loud cry that the two officials’ pension should be stopped and all their assets earned illicitly confiscated in order that the government servants will dread to ask for a bribe, let alone accepting it.

If Bribery and corruption which is reigning supreme in the country is to be stamped out, expeditious legal action shall be instituted and deterrent punishment shall be meted out.

In the meantime, lawyers appearing for the defense informed the court that the bail applications could be considered as most of the investigations against these two officials have been completed.

However, the Colombo Additional Magistrate stated that the Bribery Commission has informed that a number of documents needed for the investigations are still at the places where the suspects worked, and that even though the requests have been made, they have not been received so far. The magistrate further stated that if the suspects were given bail, the investigations could be disrupted.

However, the magistrate informed the Bribery Commission to take immediate steps to complete the investigations.